However, it’s understandable that some patients would want to avoid dental anesthesia. Many patients would prefer to avoid having an anesthetic injected into their mouth while some patients are worried about the possibility of a reaction to the anesthesia or being “put under” for a procedure.

Are there alternatives to dental anesthesia? Thanks to modern medicine, there are ways you can receive the treatment you need, pain-free!

Dental Lasers

Dental lasers have traditionally only been used for soft tissue in the oral cavity but can now be used for harder tissue as well. Dental lasers are quiet, do not require anesthesia, and do not cause pain, which helps to alleviate the anxiety many patients feel at having to have their mouth exposed to needles, drills, and other tools.

Lasers also help make dental procedures more effective. Your dentist can work quickly and efficiently to complete your procedure without worrying about your anesthesia wearing off or controlling bleeding. Lasers can help to prepare a tooth for a filling, can be used to reshape gum tissue, and much more.

Dental lasers are rapidly becoming a staple at dental offices in place of traditional anesthesia and are transforming dentistry as well as patient experience at the dentist office.

Electronic Anesthesia

Electronic anesthesia, commonly referred to as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), a specific form of electronic anesthesia, helps patients to control their pain at the dentist office.

TENS consists of pads that are placed on the outside of your mouth as close as possible to the area that is receiving the dental treatment. These stimulation pads deliver an electrical current that’s controlled by you—you control the amount of stimulation you receive using a device you hold in your hand.

The voltage is very low and provides the benefit of avoiding the risk of reaction to anesthesia, avoiding injections, and also avoiding any side effects—after the pads are removed and the procedure is complete, you can return home with no lasting effects.

Electronic anesthesia helps stop nerves from signaling to the brain that the body is in pain. This procedure is helping patients to take control of their pain management in the dentist’s chair and alleviating the need for traditional anesthesia.

When it comes to receiving anesthesia at the dentist’s office, you aren’t limited to managing your pain in a specific way. Many dental practices are now offering innovative and advanced techniques to help you receive the treatment you need with as little discomfort as possible. Ask your dentist about their experience with lasers or electronic anesthesia to receive the treatment you need for your smile!

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Fortunately, you don’t have to let dental anxiety or dental phobia prevent you from going to
the dentist. With modern sedation options, your dentist may be able to help alleviate your
anxiety during your appointment and get the treatment you need for healthy teeth and gums!

What are your sedation options to help stop dental anxiety when it comes to seeing your
dentist?

Mild Sedation: Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, often referred to as laughing gas, is an inhaled substance that’s used to stop the patient from experiencing pain and anxiety during a procedure.

While inhaling nitrous oxide, you won’t be asleep, but you won’t feel anxious either. Laughing gas is considered to be safe and is used at the majority of dental practices. Nitrous oxide is considered a non-invasive form of sedation as you’ll simply breathe it in through a mask.

The effects of this form of dental sedation are short-lived and you can drive yourself home from the appointment without any lasting effects.

Moderate Sedation: Oral Sedation

If you’d like to be a bit more sedated due to your dental fear or anxiety, you may want to ask your dentist about oral sedation.

During this form of sedation, you’ll be prescribed a pill or a liquid that you’ll take before your appointment. You will need someone to drive you to and from the appointment, but the idea is that you’ll arrive to your appointment relaxed and worry-free.

You may receive other forms of sedation during your treatment as needed to control pain or anxiety, but many people find that this form of conscious sedation helps them to visit their dentist without fear.

Moderate to Heavy Sedation: IV Sedation

Receiving a heavier form of sedation is possible at your dentist’s office with IV sedation, in
which the sedative will be administered directly into your vein for an instantaneous effect.

IV sedation is considered a moderate to heavy form of sedation in which you’ll still be awake and aware, but may feel as though you are asleep. This type of sedation is often used for shorter dental procedures.

As with oral sedation, you will require someone to drive you home from the appointment and may need a bit of time to recover from the sedative following your procedure.

Deep Sedation: General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is the deepest form of sedation you can receive. You’ll essentially be asleep for your entire procedure and may not even recall the procedure. Your dentist or oral surgeon will administer this sedative through an IV.

The effects of general anesthesia have the potential to affect you for hours after your
appointment, so it’s important to plan for this as well as to plan for someone to be waiting for you at the office to take you home.

General anesthesia is typically only considered for dental patients who need oral surgery or for people who for one reason or another do not qualify for other forms of sedation dentistry.

Have you been suffering from dental anxiety or dental phobia and let it prevent you from going to the dentist? You have options for receiving sedation dentistry to get the care you need, even if it’s just a professional teeth cleaning. Talk with your dentist about your sedation options to help alleviate your fear and anxiety at the dentist!

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How can the right dentist help you overcome your dental phobia?

Schedule a Meeting

It’s important to find a dentist you can trust and communicate with regarding your dental
phobia. Find a dentist who cares and is sensitive to your needs and understands that everyone
tolerates pain differently.

Schedule a meeting with a potential dentist to see how you feel about them. This meeting
won’t necessarily be a consultation, it’s just a meeting—tell yourself that you are not going to
get any dental work done, just talk to the dentist to see how you feel about potentially moving
forward.

Review Techniques to Help You Feel More in Control

Once you find a dentist that you like and decide you want to pursue treatment with, you and
your dentist can discuss utilizing techniques to help you feel more in control of your experience
in the dentist’s chair.

One of these techniques is having the dentist explain the procedure to you in detail. This
explanation includes exactly what will happen and even showing you different tools that will be
used and explaining to you their purpose and how long they will be used for and what you can
expect to feel.

You and your dentist can also agree on a signal that you can use when you need a break during
the procedure. Some patients also find it helpful to use headphones to listen to familiar and
relaxing music during the procedure to help them feel calmer.

Consider Sedation Dentistry

If you find that you’re still uncomfortable with the idea of going to the dentist for any type of
treatment, it may be beneficial to find a dentist who utilizes sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is designed specifically for people who experience dental anxiety or dental phobia to help them relax to their comfort level while at the dentist. Many dentists use sedation dentistry to help patients with legitimate fears of the dentist to receive the care that they need.

Your dentist can customize your level of sedation, from lightly relaxed to completely asleep
(general anesthesia). Talking with your dentist about the different types of sedation dentistry
can help you choose the right one for the procedure you need.

If you’re not able to even speak to a dentist or schedule a meeting, it might be helpful to first
seek the help of a counselor or therapist who can talk with you about your fears and work with
you to overcome them.

Dental phobia doesn’t have to stop you from getting your smile taken care of. You have options to overcome your dental phobia to help your smile stay healthy. You can begin by scheduling a meeting with a dentist, or maybe your first step is to speak with a counselor. Dental phobia gets easier once you begin addressing your fears!

The post Do You Have Severe Dental Phobia? Here’s How Your Dentist Can Help appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What Procedures It’s Used In

Laughing gas can be used for any procedure in which the patient feels anxious, has a gag reflex that may prevent dental care, a patient who cannot receive other forms of anesthesia, or children who can’t tolerate dental procedures, such as those with special needs.

Does Laughing Gas Cause Adverse Reactions?

Although reactions from laughing gas are rare, they can happen in some patients. They usually are the result of too much laughing gas or from the gas being inhaled too rapidly. Patients who have reactions may get headaches, feel cold or hot, feel nauseous or need to vomit, or be very tired. Your dentist will ensure you receive the right amount of laughing gas to be comfortable for your procedure.

How Laughing Gas Works

Your dentist will place a small mask—sometimes called a clown nose—over your nose and have you breathe normally through your nose. You will not fall asleep and will still be able to speak with the dentist and respond to questions.

Laughing gas usually takes a few minutes to take effect and the effects begin to wear off as soon as the mask is removed. Once the gas is discontinued, you’ll receive oxygen for about five minutes to help you avoid a headache later. Oxygen also helps to fully get rid of the gas once the effects wear off and your procedure is done!

How Should You Prepare for Laughing Gas?

You should have something on your stomach before your procedure, but eating a big meal isn’t recommended before or after the procedure. You should talk to your dentist about when it’s ok for you to eat or drive following the procedure.

Laughing Gas and Children

Laughing gas is safe for children and is actually the most commonly used form of sedation dentistry for kids. It can be very helpful in relaxing children for procedures that would otherwise be frightening or painful.

Who Should Not Receive Laughing Gas?

Women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy, patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a history of substance abuse or mental health concerns should speak with their dentist prior to the procedure about whether or not nitrous oxide will be safe for them to have.

Laughing gas is always used for relatively short procedures and can help keep you relaxed and still while relieving any anxiety you may have. Laughing gas has many advantages as a form of sedation—you can talk with your dentist about whether or not laughing gas would be a good fit for your dental procedure or a dental procedure for your child that requires anesthesia.

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Nitrous Oxide: Minimal Sedation

You may know this gas by its more common name, laughing gas. This is the lightest level of sedation and the only one in which you should be able to drive home after your appointment. Nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a mask that your dentist puts on your nose. As nitrous oxide has a short-term effect, you’ll feel relatively normal soon after the procedure.

Oral Sedation: From Mild to Moderate

Oral sedation is totally customizable—you and your dentist can discuss which level of sedation would be best to help relieve your dental anxiety. For this type of sedation, you’ll usually swallow a pill about an hour or so before your dental procedure. While you may become drowsy, you will still be awake and be able to respond. This is one of the most common sedation dentistry methods used as the dose can be adjusted for mild to moderate sedation.

IV Sedation: Moderate Sedation

For IV sedation, you’ll receive your sedation through an IV. This will allow the drug to quickly relax you before your procedure. This is not the same as general anesthesia, in which you would be totally unconscious during the procedure. During an IV sedation, you are still partially awake and able to respond to commands or stimuli. This is for people who don’t respond well to oral sedation or would like a quicker method of relaxation rather than waiting for a medication to work.

General Anesthesia: Deep Sedation

General anesthesia is the deepest level of sedation in which you will be totally unconscious during the dental procedure. You will not be able to respond to commands or be roused from your state. General anesthesia requires that your breathing and heart rate be monitored, as this deep level of sedation affects these most basic functions. This form of sedation may be used if you need a lot of dental work, cannot relax even with the other methods of sedation, or if you need oral surgery.

Sedation dentistry makes going to the dentist easier for people who suffer from dental anxiety. It can enable patients who haven’t been to the dentist in years to get the much needed treatment they need without the fear and anxiety of pain. It’s important to find a dentist who’s experienced in sedation dentistry and understands your fears and concerns. Find a local dentist who can offer sedation dentistry to relieve your dental anxiety so that you can enjoy your smile again!

Image courtesy of stockimages at freedigitalimages.net

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Sedation Dentistry

If you’re anxious about visiting the dentist, talk with your dentist’s office about sedation dentistry before your visit. Sedation dentistry is the practice of using medication to help you relax during your visit. There are several types of sedation, depending upon your anxiety level as well as your preference. You may opt to be minimally sedated, meaning you’ll still be awake and aware, yet relaxed. If the thought of still being aware during the procedure makes you anxious, you may choose to be moderately sedated, in which you’ll still be conscious, but likely not remember the procedure.

If you want to be even further sedated, you could ask your dentist for a deep sedation, in which you’ll be barely conscious, or finally, just have general anesthesia done, in which you’re completely unconscious. Most dentist offices offer sedation dentistry and you’ll need to confirm and ask what types will be available to you on the day of your visit.

Advanced Technology

When was the last time you went to the dentist? If it’s been a little while, remember that modern technology has changed the field of dentistry and the dentist today likely isn’t the dentist of your childhood memories. Most of the tools the dentists use are quiet, small, and minimally invasive. Technology makes many dental procedures less invasive, such as laser treatments and quiet drills. Nearly any treatment offered by your dentist now is able to be completely pain-free! It’s always important to voice your fears to your dentist or dentist office before treatment so that your appointment will be comfortable and painless for you.

Finding the Right Dentist

Remember that while dental appointments and dental work might make you anxious, the longer you put off treatment, the more work you’ll need and the worse your oral health will be. So while it’s challenging to visit a dentist while you have anxiety, you can start by looking for the right dentist to help you. The right dentist will be someone who’s caring and compassionate, especially in regards to your dental anxiety. You might start by asking your friends and family for recommendations: dental anxiety is very common, and some people might be able to recommend a dentist they’ve had positive experiences with even with dental anxiety. There are plenty of dentists out there who see patients with dental anxiety all the time—you just have to find a dentist that you’re confident will fit your needs.

Take the time to visit different dentist offices, talk to the receptionists, ask about sedation dentistry, and even meet the dentist. Don’t delay your dental appointments because of your anxiety—remember that you can find the best dentist for you with a little research, and sedation dentistry and technology can help make your appointment worry-free!

The post Don’t Let Dental Anxiety Damage Your Oral Health appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Why Are People Afraid of the Dentist?

Most people who are afraid of the dentist have a specific reason for it. It can spring from any number of

issues such as:

– A bad experience

– Anxiety disorders

– Substance abuse

– PTSD

– Victims of abuse

While a bad personal experience is the most commonly cited reason for fear of the dentist, all of the other issues come down to the same thing – fear of not being in control. When the dentist has his or her hands in your mouth, you can’t even really say if something is wrong. For many, that sparks feelings of anxiety. However, dentists are working hard to change the perception of the oral care industry.

Treatment Options for Those with Fears

Seeing your dentist is very important to the health of your teeth and your overall health (since dental problems can quickly affect other parts of the body). What are some of the ways that dentists are encouraging fearful patients to get back in the chair for important cleanings and checkups?

New Technology – New technology is making the dental experience far better. Patients may experience little to no pain at all, even if there is a problem that needs to be corrected. Cleanings are often performed with ultrasonic solutions and actual scaling with metal tools is kept to a minimum.

Sedation Dentistry – You only need to be coherent enough to get in the chair and agree to any procedures that are necessary. Then you can be giving anything from pharmacological agents that keep you relaxed to ones that ensure you barely remember being in the chair at all. Sedation methods include everything from topical numbing agents to complete sedation.

The fact is that even if you had a bad experience in the past, going to the dentist is very different than it used to be. Even patients who aren’t afraid of the dentist are having better experiences simply because hygienists and dentists are trained to use painless technology. Yes, even the tens of millions who fear to be in a dentist’s chair have new options allowing them to keep their teeth professionally cleaned with no need for anxiety.

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Sedation dentistry is not for everyone. If you tolerate your dental appointments without a great degree of anxiety, you are probably best off without sedation. Sedation is a good option for people who have severe anxiety during dental appointments. Do you have anxiety from worrying about a dental visit several days before it happens? Do you have physical signs of nervousness related to seeing the dentist like shaking, nausea or vomiting? Do you cancel dental appointments because you can’t face them? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, sedation dentistry may be right for you.

There are different levels of sedation, starting with mild sedation that can be accomplished with oral medications. These help you relax and feel calm, but they do not cause you to fall asleep. Moderate forms of sedation can make you drowsy, but you stay awake and are very relaxed. The most common form of sedation used in dentistry is nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The advantage of nitrous oxide over other forms of sedation is that the effects wear off very quickly, so it is usually not necessary to bring someone along to drive you home after your appointment.

Deeper forms of sedation that are used for surgical procedures are administered intravenously. For patients who want to conquer fear and anxiety, moderate sedation such as nitrous oxide is usually enough.

You can call for an appointment to discuss sedation dentistry and the different forms of sedation that are available. Some people have health issues that could interfere with sedation or create risks when using it. Before you go into the office for a consultation, be sure that you have up-to-date information on your health and your health history.

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There are as many as 75% of people in the United States who have some type of fear of the dentist. This might not be a full blown phobia, but there is still a real fear of being in the dental chair. Many will avoid going to the dentist at any cost, often to the despair of their teeth and gums. Some will only go when they have an emergency, such as an infection in the mouth or pain from a toothache. Some are merely too afraid of the unknown.

While we can understand that this fear of the unknown or past experience is valid, we also are resolute that the dentist can be a wonderful experience. With the onset of new technology and the friendly, welcoming smiles of your neighborhood office, a visit to the dentist is a part of a routine to look forward to. If nerves still have you feeling anxious, we are here to help. Communication is the beginning! Some dentists will provide sedatives to relax the patient before a procedure, but behavioral techniques can also help. You may speak to a counselor or your personal dentist about the fear to determine the root of the problem. If this anxiety is prominent in your little ones, one of the best ways to help ease the fear is to have them look at the work that the dentist does in the office. Many dentists will let people watch as they clean teeth and get a real “behind the scenes” experience. They will also let people look at the instruments and listen to them so that they know what to expect before any procedures are done.

Dentophobia is very real, but that does not mean that it must persist. Speaking with a dentist about your reservations is key to unlocking the root of the fear and letting your dentist assist you. With our new technologies and relaxing methods, we are here to stand beside you and make your experience purely positive! Visiting your dental office no longer needs to be an area of avoidance, but rather an appointment both you and your smile can look forward to.

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